Nadine now runs on the eternal paddock
What did two-year-old Nadine (Noriker) want to tell Michael Aufhauser when she and her friend Halla (Noriker) were handed in by the horse dealer at Gut Aiderbichl 24 years ago? Nadine and her friend were lucky, because the horse dealer was actually supposed to drive them to the slaughterhouse.
Do horses realise what they are in for when they are sent to the slaughterhouse? Nadine’s eyes spoke to Michael Aufhauser and he sensed exactly what she meant. We don’t know where Nadine and her friend Halla came from – they had been sold and then loaded up and were suddenly standing at the Gut Aiderbichl farm instead of the slaughterhouse.
Many people think that horses don’t notice anything that happens on the long transport routes. Let’s hope that the horses don’t feel lonely, abandoned and betrayed when they are sold by their owner to a dealer and start their final journey.
To ease our conscience, we also think that they don’t mind the injuries during transport or the odours at the slaughterhouse. Horses are not stupid. They read our eyes and feel our anger or sense our kindness.
Nadine spent her best years in the middle of the most beautiful countryside in Auvergne, near Moulins. Vast pastures, centuries-old trees, spacious stables and a high wall that offers the animals peace, protection and security. There are currently 125 horses, 65 cats and 7 dogs living here. The horses come from a wide variety of backgrounds: former circus horses, racehorses, back horses or slaughter horses like Nadine and Halla.
Here in Moulins, Nadine learnt again what it means to be a free and happy horse and to be treated with dignity. Nadine was able to live out her special personality here. She was simply allowed to be who she wanted to be: loving and cuddly with her humans and her friends like Halla.
Despite all the good living conditions, Nadine became tired, lost weight and her legs no longer really wanted to obey. She told us that she wanted to swap her fairytale land of Moulins for the big, eternal paddock. It was with a heavy heart and a lot of tears that we let our horse girl go. Full of dignity and in peace, she walked off, leaving us with all the wonderful memories of a marvellous horse.
Don't grieve, don't be angry with people. Many don't know any better. Maybe this thought will help.
– Michael Aufhauser, founder of Gut Aiderbichl
Dear Nadine,
You were one of the first horses, that Michael Aufhauserrescued. We learnt from him how wonderful and loyal animals are to humans. From you we we canlearn, how good it does us humans in our souls, when we – diehumanenand the animals – living together in respectand mutual happiness.
We will now take special care of your friend Halla – it seems, as if she is searching the vast pastures of Moulins. Take care, dear Nadine.
